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Square Enix revealed its line-up for next month’s JUMP Festa 2007 through its official website. Among the booth’s highlights will be new movies of the Final Fantasy XIII games as well as playable versions of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Dragon Quest Swords. Square Enix will show off the following titles at the event:

* The story will take place in the floating continent Puruvama in Ivalice and on the continent below
* You can visit the main locations in FFXII and see how the main characters living after the events in FFXII
* Both Balthier and Fran will join Vaan and Penelo in the adventure, and the total number of party members will be greater than FFXII
* The Espers (summon beasts) will have a bigger role in this game, in fact there will be more Espers than any other FF games. The Espers will be used differently from FFXII
* The story will be divided into short episodes, which will build up to a grand storyline
* Revenant Wings will have a new battle system, but it will share a number of elements with FFXII, such as the Gambit system
* The battle system will be fully playable with the stylus, all other game systems are also compatible with stylus
* It is uncertain whether the game will support Wi-Fi, unless lags can be eliminated

Today, Gust announced its first DS project, titled Atelier Lise: Ordre no Renkinjutsushi. The game’s protagonist is a 15-year old princess by the name of Lisette (Lise) Lander. Her country, the Kingdom of Lander has slipped into bankruptcy and Lisette herself becomes distressed by the debt. In order to reclaim her kingdom from the clutches of the Rockheim Bank, she decides to start earning money with alchemy. Because of this experience, money has become very important for her. Other characters include the beautiful Lolotte Stasille, the young alchemist Alf Octrhein, the wealthy and famous Ealie Mitter, the 24-year old Eleore, troublemaker and female alchemist Poin Stadt as well as two animals called Coron and Wicky. In order to earn the money she needs to get her kingdom back from the bankers, Lisette is required to perform various alchemic taks for the people she meets throughout the game. No Atelier game is without item fusions, and Atelier Lise is no exception to that rule. This time however, the development team has added a twist; during fusions, certain accidents can occur. These accidents will trigger certain minigames. The player’s performance in such a minigame will then determine the outcome of the item fusion. The items required for fusions can be found in the game’s various dungeons. Exclamation marks on the field map lead the player to these items. As an example for the use of the DS’ stylus and touchpad, players might have to shake a tree using the stylus, causing an item to fall into the river beneath. Players then have to be quick and pick up the item, before it drifts away. Battles apparently will also make use of the stylus in similar fashion, even though no details have been announced so far. Lise sells items through an unmanned shop. After putting an item there, potential customers might buy Lise’s creations. However, players need to pay attention to what they sell, as customers might get angry if a product does not work the way it is supposed to. Atelier Lise: Ordre no Renkinjutsushi will be available in Japan sometime this winter for 4,800 yen ($40.81 USD).

In the newest edition of Famitsuu, Square Enix announced yet another DS title in form of Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana. The newest installment of Kouichi Ishii’s classic franchise returns with a completely new battle system: A combination of real-time strategy and RPG elements. Chrono series mastermind Masato Kato, who previously worked on Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana, returns as scenario writer. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance character designer Ryouma Itou and Akira Oguro are in charge of the game’s character designs, while Yoko Shimomura is composing the soundtrack. Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana is currently only 35% complete. Players will use an airship as a mobile base of operations and summon monsters to assist them in the game’s real-time battles. The game’s protagonist is a young man by the name of Roger. Roger has a bright and diplomatic personality. He is living in the Kingdom of Pedan and two years ago joined the country’s military. Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana has yet to receive an official release date.

Square Enix today announced three new projects, including Subarashiki no Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix. Subarashiki no Sekai for Nintendo’s DS is an original Action RPG taking place in a modern world. Screenshots show the infamous crossing in front of Shibuya station in downtown Tokyo. The game’s protagonist is capable of reading the hearts of others. Together with the female lead, Siki, he is forced to play a mysterious game in Shinjuku. Since the game’s development team is made up of talent that previously worked on Kingdom Hearts, it should come as no surprise that the game features action-oriented battles utilizing the DS’s touchpad. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is another DS-based RPG, centering around Final Fantasy XII’s protagonist Vaan and his girlfriend Panelo. The duo will embark on a new adventure, taking them to a floating continent. Last but not least, Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix for PlayStation 2 follows Square Enix’s traditional and successful formula of bringing the US version of a popular game to Japan. This includes English voice acting and the various other enhancements and additions made in the US release. One screenshot also shows the implementation of card battling elements, reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Subarashiki no Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix have yet to receive official release dates.

Nippon Ichi Software today revealed its newest project. Titled Soul Cradle: Sekai wo Kurau Mono, the game is a PlayStation 2-based strategy RPG. The game’s character designs are the work of designer toi8. The game takes place in a medieval world where humans and other creatures have co-existed peacefully. Once upon a time, King Median managed to unite the entire world under his rule and bring an end to an age of war. Despite being a human, he possessed super-human powers and was considered a hero by his contemporaries. After the death of the king and his son, the continent once again declined into a state of war. This period of turmoil, however, did not continue for long, as the adult daughter of the king, Lena managed to quell the violence and bring all countries under her absolute control. The various countries ended up signing peace treaties, and order returned to the world. Only five decades later, one shadow and three giants appeared, though. The shadow’s name was Gig. The mysterious creature was so powerful that he could summon and control the three giants. Aiming to destroy the world, they caused destruction, chaos and fear. While the different countries first tried to fight the unknown enemy together, rifts in the alliance soon became visible. With her last ally, Lena set up an army and as an old queen managed to defeat the shadow. After this epic battle, Gig was sealed in a sword, while Lena was supposedly dead. In the game’s present however, Gig has re-appeared. Meanwhile, Lena also survived the battle and had continued to hide for 200 years. The game begins, as Lena merges Gig with the 17-year old protagonist. He managed to restore himself partially and now aims to use the protagonist’s body to fully regain his powers and destroy the world. Danett is the protagonist’s childhood friend. Feenu is one of the giants commanded by Gig 200 years ago. Following Gig’s defeat, the giant has stopped moving, though. In its current state the giant is protected by the country of Raid. In addition to Feenu, the other two giants also continue to exist in the world. Soul Cradle: Sekai wo Kurau Mono will be available in Japan sometime next year.

From Software’s [eM] -eNCHANT arM- (Enchanted Arms) became the Xbox 360’s first original Japanese-developed RPG, when it hit retail store shelves back in January 2006. While the game was only recently released in the US, From Software apparently is already working on a new version of its next-generation RPG. According to Japanese retail sources, [eM] -eNCHANT arM- will be released for PlayStation 3. No details regarding possible updates or additions have been announced, though. [eM] -eNCHANT arM- for PlayStation 3 will be available in Japan sometime this winter. Hence, the game could very well become the first Japanese RPG to appear on PlayStation 3.

Yesterday, Sony Computer Entertainment held an event in Tokyo to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the release of the original Wild ARMS for PlayStation in Japan in 1996. At the event, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio’s Eitarou Nagano took the stage not only to announce the release date of Wild ARMS The Vth Vanguard, but also to reveal the first series’ PlayStation Portable installment, entitled Wild ARMS Cross Fire. Other than the game’s title, no other details were provided, though. Wild ARMS The Vth Vanguard for PlayStation 2 will be available in Japan on December 12th.

The following interview was conducted with Kazuma Kaneko, lead designer and artist of Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series of games, back at this year’s E3. Once it became clear I couldn’t use this in the mag, I decided it was still way too interesting to waste! So here it is, L2G readers. If you love any of the MegaTen games or are just curious about the upcoming Devil Summoner title, you should give it a look! Hitoshura and myself (Lynxara) conducted this interview, if you’re wondering about that.

HGM: So could you tell us, in your own words, about your role in creating the games of the Shin Megami Tensei (MegaTen) series?
Kaneko: Aside from character design, which most people know me for, I oversee storytelling and gameplay design. HGM: So what makes the Devil Summoner games distinct among the many MegaTen games?
Kaneko: Devil Summoner doesn’t use the turn-based system most people associate with the Shin Megami Tensei RPGs. It’s more of an interactive action game. Basically, «devil summoners» are people who act as detectives, while using demons to aid them. In a Devil Summoner title, the player takes on the role of a «devil summoner» for him or herself. HGM: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne was sort of the «classic» MegaTen look. Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner was a surrealist take on the MegaTen aesthetic. What is the spin on the MegaTen visual sense we’ll see in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner?
Kaneko: Well, this Devil Summoner game is set in Japan in the early 1900’s. It was a shadowy period of transition from traditional culture to a more modern, Western-style culture we call «Westernization». The game designs dramatize this by trying to look as realistic as possible. HGM: So we’ll see period technology, like guns and cars?
Kaneko: Yes, definitely. HGM: What special system design elements did you come up with for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner?
Kaneko: Unlike most MegaTen games, you only have one demon at a time for your partner. The summoner, Raidou, never acts on his own. Instead, he does combination attacks with his partner. There’s a lot of interactivity, with the summoner and his demon. HGM: Speaking of Raidou, could you tell us a little bit about him?
Kaneko: Raidou Kuzunoha is the game’s main character. His name has a special significance… in kabuki theater, there is a tradition where a great actor’s name may be carried on by other actors. This demonstrates the great one’s importance and honor. In Devil Summoner, the Kuzunoha clan is descended from great persons like that. The player character is a ‘chosen one’ who gets to inherit the name of a great man, Raidou Kuzunoha. HGM: So what’s the significance of the original ‘Raidou Kuzunoha’, that the player character is named after?
Kaneko: The Kuzunoha clan was founded by a great man who taught five disciples. The original «Raidou Kuzunoha» was one of those disciples, and other people inherited their names to honor them. Future Devil Summoner games will talk about the other four great disciples. HGM: So with Devil Summoner coming out this year and Persona 3 on the way, what’s next for the MegaTen series?
Kaneko: Probably the next Devil Summoner title. HGM: What systems can fans expect to see MegaTen games on in the future?
Kaneko: Probably the PS3 and Wii. I would really love to bring MegaTen to Wii. HGM: What would a Wii MegaTen game be like?
Kaneko: Well, if you play Nocturne or Digital Devil Saga, they’re typical modern RPGs. You see your characters act from a third-person view. But as you and your readers probably know, the original MegaTen games used a completely different first-person viewpoint. I would love to go back to basics with MegaTen on the Wii and bring back the first-person perspective, while using the controller to let players experience their environments directly. HGM: Let’s end with some questions about you as a designer. Of all your many projects for Atlus, can you pick a personal favorite?
Kaneko: It’s Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner right now, but I’m the sort of person who always prefers my latest game over my older ones. HGM: What was your first project with Atlus?
Kaneko: Oh, I really can’t remember… it was definitely a NES game. I know my first game was Kings of Kings, back when Atlus was a division of Namco. HGM: Aside from your work for Atlus, you’ve contributed guest designs to other video game series like Zone of Enders and Super Robot Taisen. You’ve also provided designs for Japanese television series like Masked Rider Hibiki. Can your fans look forward to any more projects like that?
Kaneko: Oh yes. I’m friendly with many other Japanese game producers, so crossovers are a natural result. I’m also actively interested in working with mediums outside of video games. I’m working on illustrating some novels right now, for example. Some are based on Atlus properties, but some are original. HGM: Can you name any of these «special projects» for us?
Kaneko: Not yet!